Fishing Report for 7-23-21

Trout Fishing Report for Bennett Spring
Brought to you by
Weaver's Tackle Store
July 21, 2021



How's Fishing?

On 7-17-21 the Spring came within a half foot of flood stage. A week later the water is still a bit murky and running fast, but it is very fishable. As you can see from the pictures, there are fish being caught in every zone. The lures that are working at this point, from mega worms to PowerBait, are lures that are chartreuse or white. The big winner? The trusty gingersnap marabou.

It promises to be a great weekend. See you on the stream.



Water Conditions
Bennett Spring water levels for 7-21-21

Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 78 in 1940
25th percentile is 112
Current level is 329 -new max for this date
Median is 140
Mean is 148
75th percentile is 166
Max was 276 in 1995

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=06923500
Niangua River water levels for 7-21-21

Gage House reading (water level) is 2.23 feet
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 17.6 in 2012
25th percentile is 42
Median is 75
Today's reading is 354
75th percentile is 115
Mean is 109
record high max was 318 in 2015



Lunker Club

7-14-21
Jeremy Teter from Macon, MO
2 pounds on a minnow
zone 3

Michelle Kee from Olathe, KS
2-1/4 pounds on green floss jig
zone 1

7-15-21
Aiden MItchell from Odessa, MO
2-1/2 pounds on orange power bait
zone 3

7-16-21
Clay Deter from Bevier, MO
2 pounds on cheese bait in zone 3

Katy Knudsen from Blue Springs, MO
2 pounds on black rooster tail
zone 1

Dawson Smith from Odessa MO
2 pounds, 5 ounces on orange power bait
zone 3

Doug Kahl from Pleasant HIll, MO
2 pounds on brown wooly worm, no hackle
zone 1

7-17-21

Rich Hunt from Lebanon, MO
2-1/2 pounds on a black & yellow marabou
zone 1

Kyler Long from Kansas City, MO
2 pounds on a chartreuse marabou
zone 1

7-18-21

Jason Kinworthy from Arnold, MO
2 pounds on a white flatfish #7
zone 2

7-20-21

Abel Tripp from Elkville, IL
2 pounds on white floss
zone 1



What's Working?
From the Fly Case:
cream or pink mop worm
chartreuse crackleback
bennett blue crackleback


Zone 1 & 2:
marabou - gingersnap, black, orange, black & yellow, or chartreuse marabou
bead head brown wooly bugger
wooly worm, brown
john deere mini jig
white or green floss jig


Zone 3:
live worms
orange, chartreuse, or marshmallow power bait
gulp chunky chartreuse



CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Bennett Tradition quilting
In commemoration of the Missouri bicentennial, Bennett Spring State Park will host a monthly program entitled Bennett Traditions. Each program will include a 20-minute presentation about a natural and/or historic topic that pertains to the area. The presentation will be followed by a 20-minute lesson from Karen Jaegers about quilting that relates back to the presentation topic. The event will conclude with a short question-and-answer session led by June Buckles of Buckles, Bobbins and Bolts quilt shop.
Dates, presentation topics, quilt block designs and quilting techniques are as follows:
July 22 - Bears; paw print block; how to set blocks together and preplanning.
Aug. 26 - Snakes; snake block; batting choices and the process.
Sept. 23 - Birds; flying geese block; choosing techniques (primitive vs. machine).
Oct. 28 - Trees; maple leaf block; binding techniques.
Registration is required and limited to 10 people. Each program will be recorded and posted online at a future date. To register or for more information, contact the Bennett Spring nature center at 417-532-3925.
PROGRAM TIME: 11 A.M.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING
7/23/2021 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO
The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others.
Staff from the park will be on hand to provide information about the park and answer questions. The public is invited to share comments about the park and its operations.
MEETING TIME: 6 P.M.
MEETING LOCATION: SHELTER B
Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create a two-way communication. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the park or site, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities.

HOW TO BUILD A FLY ROD
8/13/2021 TO 8/14/2021 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO
Instructor Danny Goldsmith will teach students how to construct a fly rod during this two-night class held at the nature center. Whether you have never made a rod before or are looking for new tricks of the trade, this class is for you. Participants must provide their own fly rod kit, which can be purchased online or through a local fishing shop.
Participation is limited to 10 individuals. Call 417-532-3925 to register.
PROGRAM TIMES: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.

Weed Cutting September 14th and 15th

Aug. 21 - Songbirds
Bennett Spring State Park will be hosting monthly birding activities geared toward youth but open to all ages. Each month will highlight a different species or category of bird. Programs will start at 10 a.m. with a hike to see the birds' preferred habitat and to try to locate the featured species. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a related activity designed in a come-and-go format at the nature center.
. For more information, call 417-532-3925.
PROGRAM TIMES: 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.
Nature Center | 417-532-4338

THIRD ANNUAL AND MISSOURI BICENTENNIAL PICKING UP PAWPAWS CONTEST
9/15/2021 TO 9/25/2021 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO
The pawpaw is our largest edible fruit. It can grow up to 6 inches long and is often compared to a banana with mango flavor. The fruit can be eaten raw or baked. Lewis and Clark were known to eat them on their expedition in 1806, Native Americans wove the inner bark into fibers for cloth, and pioneers used the inner bark for stringing fish. The pawpaw is also Missouri's state fruit tree.
Can you find the biggest pawpaw? Help celebrate this edible part of Missouri's history from Sept. 15 through Sept. 25. We invite you to search your own private pawpaw patch to find the biggest pawpaw you can. Bring it to the nature center at Bennett Spring State Park on the dates and times below to be officially entered into the contest. Peak ripening is in September.
Pawpaws will be weighed at the nature center Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickers will provide their name and phone number along with the county in Missouri where the pawpaw was harvested. A photo will be taken of each picker with his or her pawpaw.
CONTEST DATES: SEPT. 15-25
WEIGH-IN TIMES: WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.

September 25, 2021 Ladies Free Fishing at Bennett Spring State Park
7:30 AM - 7:15 PM

Holland Derby
The annual Holland Derby. Fishing derby for fundraising for The American Cancer Society. Derby runs two days - 9th and 10th. Tagged trout are released, they will win prizes if caught.
When: Saturday, October 9, 2021
Time: 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
For additional information, please call 417-532-4418 or 417-532-7612.

There is a list at https://mostateparks.com/events/park/bennett-spring-state-park that gives all the details of other activities, such as hikes that are going on at Bennett Spring State Park throughout the year.

Events for 2022 - save the date.
April 23, 2022~ Veteran's Free Fishing Day



FISHING HOURS
BEGIN
END

July
6:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.
August
7:00 A.M.
8:00 P.M.
September
7:30 A.M.
7:15 P.M.
October
7:30 A.M.
6:30 P.M.



Quote of the Week

Fishing is quite a good metaphor for life. You do your prep, you do your thinking, you put your bait out, and you wait, confident that you've done your groundwork. But a lot of life is luck.
Jeremy Wade

Thanks for reading,
Lucy

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published